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civil death

British  

noun

  1. law (formerly) the loss of all civil rights because of a serious conviction See also attainder

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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The dissolution of children’s legal relationship with their parents is known as the civil death penalty because it is the ultimate punishment family courts can impose.

From Slate Nov. 21, 2022

Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg wrote the dissenting opinion, saying changing the civil death law should be up to the state legislature, not the court.

From Seattle Times Mar. 2, 2022

Because once someone is determined to be under guardianship, it’s civil death.

From Slate Jun. 29, 2021

There are an estimated 6 million Americans who cannot vote in the country’s elections because of some form of civil death.

From The Guardian Aug. 7, 2020

By the later law a sentence for crime which produced civil death set free the other spouse.

From Folkways A Study of the Sociological Importance of Usages, Manners, Customs, Mores, and Morals by Sumner, William Graham

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